Court lets off 3 accused of kidnapping minor

New Delhi: A man accused of alluring and kidnapping a minor girl for marrying her has been let off by a Delhi court as key witnesses and the victim were "not traceable".

The court also acquitted two of his associates saying the trio are entitled to be acquitted due to lack of evidence against them.

"In view of the statement of investigative officer, it is manifest that the victim, her father and uncle who were main star witnesses of the prosecution are not traceable. The prosecution has failed to examine these star witnesses in the court.

"There is no evidence on record against accused persons. I am therefore, of the opinion that all the three accused persons are entitled to be acquitted due to lack of evidence," Additional Sessions Judge Suresh Chand Rajan said.

Dinesh, Ramesh and Uma Yadav, residents of Uttam Nagar in west Delhi were facing trial after the victim`s father, who was a security guard, on July 15, 2008, had lodged a complaint with the police alleging that they have taken away his minor daughter after enticing her.

The prosecution had said that on the day of incident the girl went to school but did not return home. He also said that after the case was registered, the victim and accused Ramesh were apprehended while boarding a bus here.

The investigative officer had sought time to search the victim and her parents saying they did not turn up to depose before the court as they have gone somewhere else after selling their house.

However, the request was declined by the court saying "It would be futile exercise of the court and no fruitful will come out by examining remaining witnesses as the victim, her father and her uncle were main star witnesses and whole case was resiting on their testimonies."